Time in a Bottle

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Back in college a few of us once took a test, sponsored by the school, that determined if you were an alcoholic or not. The test seemed real slanted to us back then and we all answered it as honestly as we could.

Question 1 - How many days a week do you drink? They were looking for two or less - we came in at 5 plus or minus one day.

Question 2 - Can you have a good time without drinking? They were looking for yes - we answered an emphatic no.

Question 3 - Have you ever blacked out from drinking? I remember one of my buddies saying is that 'Ever - or just this weekend?'

Question 4 - Can you stop drinking once you've started? Same guy said - 'Yeah when I black out.'

Question 5 - Has drinking ever caused you to miss class or an assignment? One guy we went to school with told his professors that his sister died so that he could have a solid two weeks off - he didn't have a sister. He might have had a slight problem.

I ask all of these questions against the backdrop of the story out of New York with the wrong-way driver who supposedly was about a .19 with a car full of kids, and an accident that resulted in 8 dead. Not a subject to joke about by any means, but her family is saying that she never drank - not even a little - is that possible? Could it have been a one-time thing?

They say that alcoholism is a progressive disease and that it destroys the health of millions - it's even more deadly as drinkers get behind the wheel and I'm certain that good people do it because as Sam Kinnison said - "I'm against drunk-driving but there's a fundamental problem - How the *$%# do I get my car home?"

I attended a corn festival last night (Congrats to the team of Cataldo-Renaldo - the runner was out at 3rd!) and there was a barn filled with people swilling draft beer. No doubt a number of those people (and I'm talking you couldn't even walk in the place because of the crowd) got behind the wheel. Yet usually a heavy drinker can't hide the fact from their friends and family. Can they?

I pray for the families of the victims in such crashes - horrible, horrible way to go - and end with the results of our little drinking quiz back twenty some years ago- One of my buddies proudly said, as Jim Croce sang in the background:

"The sad part is that if I could save Time in a Bottle I'd probably end up drinking it."

He might have had a problem.

Comments

John said…
Thanks man. Good to see you last night. Sorry I couldn't stay longer. We have to do it again soon.
08 August, 2009
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